Radiation regulations 2019
As required by the updated Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019, EDF have published the Hinkley Point B Power Station Consequences Report – revised and updated.
Risk of Ionising radiation
All civil and military facilities working with or transporting ionising radiation pose some risk, however remote, to the general public, and as such a radiation emergency could occur anywhere in Somerset.
To make sure that the likelihood of an incident remains very low, stringent licence conditions control its use, while safety regulations ensure that appropriate emergency plans are in place and the public are:
- Properly informed and prepared in advance about what to do in the unlikely event of a radiation emergency occurring
- Provided with information if there is a radiation emergency
These regulations are a legal requirement and we work closely with site operators, emergency services and partner agencies to meet them, with the delivery of appropriate plans and arrangements.
Hinkley Point
The following arrangements are in place for local residents living within 3.5km of the Hinkley Point B station.
Off-site Emergency Plan
Arrangements that are to be followed by emergency responders if they are addressing the consequences of an incident at the site are detailed in an ‘Off-Site Emergency Plan’. This is regularly reviewed and tested by all agencies involved to make sure it is up to date and fit for purpose.
We are responsible for the maintenance of these arrangements in accordance with Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR).
Emergency information calendar
This calendar contains important emergency actions, information and advice relevant to people living close to the site. It is distributed every year and is free of charge.
Stable iodine tablets
Hinkley Point B ended nuclear generation in August 2022. Somerset Council, Public Health experts and EDF Energy agree that the levels of radioactive iodine have been declining since the end of generation in August 2022, and are now at negligible levels.
This means that there is no longer sufficient radioactive iodine present to pose a risk to people’s health, in the highly unlikely event of an accident at the site. Therefore, Stable Iodine tablets are no longer recommended as a protective action. Stable Iodine can only be prescribed and issued to individuals as part of nuclear off-site planning if there is evidence of a threat to health that requires this protective action; this is no longer the situation at the Hinkley Point B site.
